Thai authorities carried out a large-scale raid operation on Thursday 8 October 2026 in three Bangkok sites linked to Israeli nationals, as part of an investigation into foreigners' commercial activities and the use of nominees.
Several agencies took part in the operation, coordinated by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), the Revenue Department, the Department of Lands, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), the Ministry of Provincial Administration, the Department of Business Development, Immigration and other agencies. The investigation forms part of the Prime Minister's policy to combat nominee structures.
The raids targeted three locations: the Chabad of Bangkok foundation, the offices of Gan Chabad Co and other entities on the 17th floor of ITF Silom Palace, as well as the construction project of the Jewish Association of Thailand / Chabad House on Sukhumvit 22.
At the Chabad of Bangkok headquarters, investigators discovered three Burmese migrant workers in irregular status. The declared premises, a room measuring only 2.5 metres by 3 metres, also served as the official registered address for five companies. No documents relating to the foundation, its activities, procedures or accounts were found on site. Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor, who has been a naturalised Thai citizen for twelve years, was present.
At ITF Silom Palace, the authorities seized numerous documents showing that approximately 50 to 61 companies were registered at the same address. The site operated as an accounting and legal consultancy serving Israeli nationals, with evidence of restaurant and hotel operations and shareholdings by naturalised Thai citizens.
At the Sukhumvit 22 site, two undocumented Laotian workers were identified. The construction project for an eight-storey building (three basements and five floors) raised questions about the origin of the funds, estimated at several hundred million, or even billions of baht, presented as donations.
Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee stated: “There are many questions about the reasons for these registrations. No documents relating to the foundation, its activities, working procedures, financial transactions or balance sheets were found.”
The operation extends an investigation opened in August 2026 in Chonburi and Pattaya provinces. Yesterday, two suspects – Israeli national Maimon David Marciano and Thai national Darin Prasertsuk – appeared to answer charges of violating the law on foreign business activities through the use of nominees.
The authorities emphasise that annual donations to the Chabad foundation amount to several hundred million baht. AMLO will examine domestic and international financial flows, while the Department of Lands and the Revenue Department will analyse possible illegal land acquisitions and tax evasion cases. Procedures for revocation of nationality and deregistration of foundations or associations remain possible.
Justice Minister Lieutenant General Rutthapol Naowarat stressed the non-discriminatory nature of the action: “We are not targeting any particular nationality. We follow the evidence.” Similar operations have already been carried out against other groups of foreigners, notably Chinese, in Koh Samui and elsewhere.
Sources : Bangkok Post, Daily News, 2